Report: Lonzo Ball will remain Lakers’ starting point guard

At least for the moment, Lonzo Ball has wrestled the Los Angeles Lakers’ starting point guard job away from Rajon Rondo.

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Ball will remain in the starting lineup even after Rondo returns from his three-game suspension. Rondo is eligible to return on Saturday, but he will do so off the bench.

Rondo started the first two games of the season, both Laker losses. He averaged a double-double in those games, but the Lakers have performed better with Ball on the floor. They’re 2-1 with him in the lineup, and he’s provided 12.7 points, 7.3 assists, and 7 rebounds per game during that period. The team also has no concerns about his knee, which he had surgery on during the offseason but has since returned to full strength.

Rondo’s on-court conduct was poor and his off-court conduct has come under scrutiny as well. That’s not why the Lakers are benching him, but it probably doesn’t help. They’ve just performed better with Ball at the point and they’re going to keep him there as long as it stays that way.